- RUBI INBOX -

[medals]

JEM WALKER

TELEPATHY - LETTERS - DELIVERIES - IN PERSON

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—jolted into voice

[otherbitches]

NO?

LMFAO

[medals]

Uh, yes? You already used your veto.

[otherbitches]

We're not naming a child Steve. Every Steve [ one Steve ] I've met is a bitch.

[ ... ]

Not that I'm calling your dad a bitch.

[medals]

I can’t believe you just called my dad a bitch?

[otherbitches]

It's not my fault he has a bitch name.

[medals]

If you want to get laid this month, you better consider your next sentence veeeeery carefully.

[otherbitches]

[ Motherfucker. ]

I've got a history with Steves. Don't you have a fucking grandfather or something?

You don't want to name a little bundle of joy Kieran?

[medals]

Oh, sure. That can be number two.

Did a Steve break your heart?

[otherbitches]

No, Steve didn't break my fucking heart.

[ And... he's already lost. ]

He's just some loser from back home.

[medals]

[hmm hmm - ]

Oh! King Steve! You talked about him at prom, right?

[otherbitches]

[ kInG sTeVe, everyone! ]

Yeah. His suit was a fucking joke.

[medals]

Okay, tiger, calm down.

[otherbitches]

I'm plenty calm. Come on, you saw it.

[ ... ]

We had a thing. I caved his face in and he hit me with a car.

[medals]

Maybe next time just try asking him out.

[otherbitches]

JEM.

[medals]

Yes, my sweet angel baby boy?

[otherbitches]

[ AUUUGHHHHHHH. ]

It wasn't like that and he wasn't like that.

[medals]

Why don’t you tell me all about it while I blow you on the lake banks?

[otherbitches]

You know you could just blow me.

[medals]

No I want the details?

[otherbitches]

But it'd be real nice of you to just blow me.

You can have the details. They're not exciting.

You ready?

[medals]

I’ve been ready for most of your little trip down memory lane.

[otherbitches]

My trip? You—

Wait outside.

[ UGHghhHghhghh. For all that he fucking hates this trip down memory lane, Billy is positively flushed from the sun, a brighter gleam to his eye. He's ditched the leather pants, his layers, the thick warm sweater Oksana gave him weeks ago in favor of a linen shirt that's practically open.

Where half the town is still suffering from weather shock, Billy bounced back in hours. He relishes the sweat on his brow. ]

You know how to ride one of these? [ Tuzik is freshly borrowed from Orest, chestnut coat gleaming and the morning deliveries already in his past. The glassblowers are still hiding from the sun and their furnaces. ]

[medals]

[She’s turned a shift into a sundress, sleeves ripped off, buttons undone as decently possible. Someone has graciously braided her hair away from her neck.

The horse, is, hm. Yes. She’s chewing her thumb, trying to hide a grin. ] No. But, for the record, I don’t think you’ve ever been hotter than you are right now.

[otherbitches]

[ He can't stop looking at her. The way her skin's flushed, the way the dress cuts off. The boarding house is right there, he could fuck her in his room, her room, in the woodshed, but— swimming.

And he grins. Preens a little. That's what makes Tuzik chewing on his shirt collars bearable. ]

Come on, babe, I'll help you up.

[ Big words from a city boy who learned to ride by necessity a month ago. Tuzik's velvety nose nudges toward Jem before Billy can help her up. When he noses at Billy's arm, teeth bumping against his skin for a nibble, he says, "Knock it the fuck off." Not something Tuzik wants to do, but, Billy slides on the saddle in front of Jem, hand finding one of hers and wrapping it around him. ] Hold on.

[ Horse riding is bumpy. Luckily, on horseback, it doesn't take long at all to get out toward the lake. ]